The Healthiest Choice for Older Adults
Lack of exercise and poor diet are the second-largest
underlying cause of death in the United States,
smoking is the #1 cause, published from the National
Institute of Health. Exercise is the healthiest
choice you can make for your well being. Regular
exercise and physical activity are critical to
the health and independence of older people. Not
exercising is a risky alternative.Research indicates
that most older adults can safely and successfully
perform properly designed strength training exercise.
Sensible strength training can actually improve
many of theses debilitating conditions: obesity,
osteoporosis, low back pain, arthritis, depression
and general frailty and be beneficial for diabetes
and cardiovascular disease. I recommend seeking
the advice of an exercise professional that specializes
in working with older adults to learn how to exercise
properly.
There are four types of exercise older adults
can do to realize health benefits:1. Endurance
exercises to improve heart, lungs and circulatory
system. Endurance improves your stamina for the
tasks you perform for daily activity living like
climbing stairs and grocery shopping.2. Strength
exercises to build muscles and increase strength.
Even very small increases can make a big difference
in frail people.
By doing strength exercises you
increase your metabolism, which helps keep your
weight and blood sugar in check. Studies show
strength exercise also may help prevent osteoporosis.3.
Balance exercises to help prevent falls, which
are a major cause of broken hips and other injuries
that can lead to disability and loss of independence.4.
Flexibility exercises to help keep your body limber
by stretching your muscles and the soft tissues
that hold your body's structure in place.
.More than two-thirds of older adults don't engage
in regular physical activity. Now that you know
the benefits of exercise, I hope you can get excited
and motivated to get started. Think of an important
reason why you want to be healthy, and live longer
with quality of life. Use this reason as your
motivator. If you don't have a goal or reason
to get you excited about exercise, it will be
difficult for you to be consistent and realize
the benefits.
It is important to build your strength
and intensity gradually on all types of exercise.
Don't try to get in shape overnight. If you do
too much too quickly, you can injure your muscles
and soft tissues. Your goal is to improve from
wherever you are right now.
She is Founder and CEO of Vitality Management
and owner of Peak Physique Fitness Training in
Michigan. Linda inspires, motivates and educates
on health prevention through exercise, healthy
eating and positive attitude. For FREE tips go
to http://www.easyexercisetips.comTo contact Linda
Geyer, email linda@peakphysiquefitness.comLinda
Geyer, entrepreneur, speaker and author, has spent
her entire career in health related businesses
helping her clients and audiences make their health
a priority.
Founder and CEO of Vitality Management,
a corporate wellness education company, and owner
of Peak Physique Fitness Training, a professional
personal training studio in Michigan, she inspires,
motivates and educates the public to focus on
health prevention through exercise, nutrition
and positive mental attitude.
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